Breast lifter for gins



Dec; 16,1930. BEHLE v 1,785,109

BREAST LIFTER FOR ems Filed Dec. 7, 1929 2 Sheets-$heet 1 gmwntoz Dec.16, 1930. J. BEHLE 1,785,109

BREAST LIFTER FOR GINS Filed Dec. '7, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedDec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES .PVATENT" OFFICE,

JOSEPH BEHLE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, AsSIGNoE'To TH MURRAY COMPANY, onDALLAS,

TExAs, A CORPORATIONOF TEXAS BREAST LIFTER FOR GINS Y Application filedDecember. 7,1929; Serial No. 412,390.

- This invention relates to new and useful improvements in breastlifters for ginsl One object of the invention is to provide improvedmeans for lifting a gin breast. v r, Another object of the inventionisto pro vide compensating resilient meansfor assisting in lifting a ginbreast to be adjusted in proportion to its load. A further object of theinvention is to T provide lever locking means for securinga gin breastin lowered and raised positions; whereby accidental displacement fromeither position is precluded. r

A construction designed to carry out the .inventionwill be hereinafterdescribed together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specifioation and by reference to the accompanyered and anattachment embodying my in-. 25 vention applied thereto. I

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a portion of a gin Stand showing the ginbreast in an open or raised position.

Fig. 3 is aside elevation of portions of a gin stand showing theinvention as applied thereto, and

Fig. 4 is a detailed Sectional View of the lever locking means release.

In the drawings the numeral designates a portion of one of the endframes of a gin stand. The breast 11'is hinged to the stand at 12 and isconstructed in the usual way and provided with a lower rib bar 13 and arest plate 14. These parts are found in the ordinary gin constructionand form no part of my invention.

On the lower front side of the gin and below the breast, a longitudinalshaft 15 is mounted in bearings 16 secured to the end frames 10.Oppositely coiled springs 17 are mounted ciroumferentially of the shaft15 and adjacenteaoh of the bearings. One end of each spring is securedin the adjacent hearing 16 while the opposite end of each spring so issecured to a ratchet 18 loosely mounted on lever arms 19. .mountedon-the shaft 15 by set" screws 20.

the shaft. The coil of each spring to. its respective ratchet is suchthat by rotating the ratchet clockwise of the shaft 15, (Fig. 1) thetension of .the spring is increased. The springs are preferably squarein cross-section whereby greater tensional strength 1s pro- The ratchetsare positioned with their teeth 18"engaging teeth 19 on the hubs of'Said arms are adjustably The outer ends of the arms are yoke shaped andeach has mounted thereon a roller21 by means of a pin 22. The rollersare adapted to engage cam-faced plates23 secured on the lower end of thebreast.

One end .of the shaft 15 extends through one of. the bearings 16 beyondthe end frame 10 and has securely mounted thereon an operating lever 24.The lever 24 extends upward through an elongated slot 28 in a segmental.shaped racket-25 secured to the end frame 10 by abolt 26 and nut 26'.The lever 24is bent rearwardly and carries a handle 27 atits upper end.By grasping the handle and pulling the lever forward the shaft isrotated counter-clockwise (Fig. 2) thus swinging the arms 19 forwardwhereby the breast is swung open or raised.

Teeth 29 and 30 are provided on the front and rear ends respectively ofthe'bracket for engagement by a dog 31 carried by'the lever 24;; Aplunger 32 carried in the handle rests on one end of alever 33 pivotedin a boss 27 of the handle. The outer end of thelever 33 is pivotablyconnected to the upperend of a rod 84 which has its lower end pivoted inan eye on top of the dog 31. A coiled spring 35 is mountedcircumferentially of the dog and confined thereon by a washer 36 securedto the dog and a boss 37 of the operating lever 24 whereby the dog isnormally depressed.

.By pressing the plunger 32 down the rod is raised whereby the dog 31 islifted to free from the teeth of the bracket. By this arrangement thelever "24 may be locked in a forward or rearward position.

rotating the ratchet-s 18 elockwise of the shaft (Fig. 2) the tension ofthe springs 17 may be increased, thus providing adjustable means forpartially counterbalancing the weight of the breast.

As the lever rides in the elongated opening 28 of the bracket theactuation of said lever is thereby limited within the length of saidopening. Such limited actuation of the lever will prevent'thedisplacement of the rollers 21 from engagement with the cam plates Bygrasping the handle 27 and depressing the plunger 32 the lever may bepulled forward thereby raising or opening the breast as hereinbeforeexplained. The springs 17 being under tension will tend to uncoil andthus assist in the raising of the breast. As the lever is pulled forwardthe dog 31 will ride over and engage the tooth 29 of the bracket 1 thuslocking the lever in a forward position and securely holding the breastin a raised position. 7

By grasping the handle 27 and depressing the plunger 32 the lever 24-may be pushed rearwardly thereby closing or lowering the breast ashereinbefore explained. As the lever is pushed rearwardly the dog 31will ride over and engage the tooth 30, thus locking the lever in arearward position and securely holding the breast in a lowered position.

The lever 24 has SUfi'lClGIll? length which withthe partial springtensioned counterbalance irovides for the easy and convenient handlingof the breast. Obviously, with the spring tensioned counterbalancingmeans herein described, it is possible by merely rotating the ratchetsto vary the tensional stren th of the springs thereby providing variablemeans for assisting in the raising or lowering of the breast.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well asmodifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim, is:

, 1. In a gin breast lifting device, the combination with a gin frame, arock shaft, elements carried by said shaft for engaging the breast toelevate said breast when the shaft is rocked, means for rocking saidshaft, and oppositely coiled springs surrounding the shaft, each springhaving one end immovably held and its opposite end adjustably securedand arranged for rotation whereby the tension of the spring may bevaried, said springs being under. tension when the breast is lowered anduncoiling when the breast is elevated to assist in lifting the same.

L 2. In a gin breast lifting device, the combination with a gin frame, arock shaft, elements carried by said shaft for engaging the breast toelevate said breast when the shaft is rocked, means for rocking saidshaft, and oppositely coiled springs surrounding the shaft, each springhaving one end immovably held and its opposite end secured in a ratchetloosely mounted on the shaft and adapted to engage ratchet teeth on thehub of the lifting arm whereby the ratchet may be rotated for varyingthe tension of the spring, said springs being under tension andconnected to the lifting arms assist in the lifting of the breast.

3. In a gin breast lifting device, the combination with a gin frame, arock shaft, elements carried by said shaft for engaging the breast toelevate said breast when the shaft is rocked, means for rocking saidshaft, and a coiled spring surrounding the shaft, the spring having oneend innnovably held and its opposite end adjustably secured and arrangedfor rotation whereby the tension of the spring may be varied, saidspring being under tension when the breast is lowered and uncoiling whenthe breast is elevated to assist in lifting the same.

4. In a breast lifter for a cotton gin, a rock shaft, means for mountingsaid shaft on the gin stand, elements mounted on the shaft for engagingthe breast for lifting the same when the shaft is rocked, a leversecured to the shaft, a locking plunger carried by said lever, a lockingsegment mounted on the gin frame having stops for receiving said plungerand spacedso as to lock said lever at each end of its swing, whereby thebreast may be locked against displacement in both an elevated andlowered position. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature JOSEPH BEHLE.

